Traveling-case.



PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

W. T. RICHARDS. TRAVELING CASE. arrmoumn FILED 0013. 1902. ammwnn SEPT. 26. 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented April 19, 1904.

WVILLIAM T. RICHARDS. OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRAVELING-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 758,019, dated April 19, 1904.

Application filed October 3, 1902. Renewed September 25, 1903. Serial No. 17 M562. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM T. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Traveling-Cases, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to traveling-cases, and more particularly to those commonly designated as dress-suit cases; and it is designed to produce a traveling or a dress-suit case which in its construction embodies a conveniently-disposed tray, shelf, pocket, or recess adapted to contain the articles liable to be in especial demand and a means of ready access to the said tray, so that the articles contained therein may be readily extracted without entire] y opening the cover of the case or disturbing the articles contained in the main body of the same.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a traveling-case embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows the same in cross-section.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 are the two sections of a traveling-case, 1 being in the present instance the body and 2 the cover, the two sections being hinged together at their bottom edges, as at 3, and being provided with suitable means whereby they may be secured in closed position, as, for example, the fastening-clamps 4 4.

In the interior of the case and preferably suspended from the top e'. a, the side of the case to which the handle is appliedis a tray 6, adapted to carry the articles to which it is desired to have ready access. The said tray may be made of any material adapted to combine in itself the strength and lightness desired. In practice I recommend making the bottom thereof and also the retaining lip or rail 7 of a material which will give stiffness and rigidity to the tray and which will be light in weight, yet serve to retain the said tray in shape. However, it may be preferable in some cases to form the entire tray of a pliable material, so that it may be rolled together and compactly tucked out of the way in case it is not desired to make use of the tensile strength.

same. This leather or strong cloth may be employed, or the parts of the tray may be composed of strips of stiff material arranged and secured in parallelism to each other, thestrips being sufficient in number to give the required breadth of tray. A tray constructed in the manner just mentioned will be stiff'and capable of retaining its shape and yet will admit of being rolled together, so as to occupy a small compass. he said tray should be of a suflicient capacity to fulfil the requirements of the user. In practice I recommend a tray whose length is substantially that of the interior length of the case and one which has a breadth of about two-thirds the interior depth of the same. By the adoption of these proportions a tray of large capacity is obtained and the full area of the bottom of the case say for one-third of its depth may be utilized for packing the more bulky articles, which would not be possible if the width of the tray were to be substantially that of the interior depth of the case. Furthermore, .by the use of a tray having a width somewhat narrower than the depth of the case it is possible in many instances to swing the tray away from the case-cover 2, to which latter it in its normal position hangs closely adjacent, and thus to permit the hand or arm to be inserted between the same and the front edge 7 of the tray and to reach for and extract articles placed in'the main body 1 of the case below the tray without opening the main cover of the case.

The tray is supported at its rear end by a sheet of material 8, preferably textile, attached to the side of the case and to the tray and at its front edge by a plurality of Straps 9 or strips of material having the required Straps may be employed for supporting the back, as well as the front, of the tray, if desired; but I prefer to use a sheet of solid or of closely-netted material, so that articles placed in the tray cannot fall out of the back of the same. ,iPreferably, also, side pieces 10'are provided to close theends of the tray and to prevent the escape of the articles at the said points. a i

In order to afford ready access tmthe tray without opening the entire cover ofthe case, I provide an auxiliary opening 11 in the said opening is supplied with a cover 12, which sired part of the case.

may be opened or closed at will and inde-' pendently of the main cover of the case. Preferably the said auxiliary opening 11 and its cover 12 are formed by cutting the main cover from the edge thereof and downward on the lines which are to determine the length of the opening which it is desired to have. method of construction a flap is left which is integral with the main cover and may be adapted to be turned with reference to the same on its unsevered edge 13 as a hinge. Preferably the gap on the turned-over edge of the cover formed by the cutting out of the flap, as above described, should be bridged by the strengthening edge strip 14:. Side strips 15, forming a rabbet, may be used in order to limit the inward movement of the flap 12 and to afford a better protection for the joints of the same with the case-cover. The lock or snap-catch 5 of the case is preferably located upon the edge of the flap, as shown. Y

While I have described the flap as being integral with the cover, obviously it may be formed entirely separate from the same and secured or hinged thereto in any well-known manner.

The width of the flap 12 should be such as to allow the arm to be inserted with comfort and to permit the same to reach to any de- The length of the flap may vary to suit the individual tastes of the user, but preferably should be somewhat less than the distance between the securing-clamps 4. As so constructed it is possible by releasing the lock 5 alone to. open the flap 12 and to get at the contents of the tray without opening the main cover of the case or disturbing the contents thereof, the said main cover 2 all the while being kept closed by means of the securing-clamps 4: 4.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A traveling-case comprising the, two sections hinged together at their bottom edges,

opening away from each other, and having means, as usual, to hold said sections closed together, the open tray extending transversely with relation to the said sections, one of the sections having in its upper portion the opening giving access to the contents of the said tray, and the door for said opening movably connected with said section and having one member of the lock attached thereto, the other section having the other member of the lock attached thereto.

2. A traveling-case comprising the two sections hinged together at their bottom edges, opening away from each other, and having By this together, the open tray movable transverselywith relation to the said sections, one of the sections having in its upper portion the open ing giving access to the contents of the said tray, and the door for said opening movably connected with said section and having one member of the lock attached thereto, the other section having the other member of the lock attached thereto.

3. A traveling-case comprising the two sections hinged together at their bottom edges, opening away from each other, and having means, as usual, to hold said sections closed together, the tray hung within the top of the case, one of the sections having in itsupper portion the opening giving access to the said tray, and the door for said opening movably connected with said section and having one member of the lock attached thereto, the other section having the other member of the lock attached thereto. 4:. A traveling-case comprising the two sections hinged together at their bottom edges, opening away from each other, and having means, as usual, to hold said sections closed together, the tray hung within the top of the case, and capable of swinging transversely of the case, one of the sections having in its upper portion the opening giving access to the said tray, and the door for said opening movably connected with said section and having one member of the lock attached thereto, the other section having the other member of the lock attached thereto.

5. A traveling case comprising sections hinged together to open and close as usual, having a collapsible tray suspended therein, pro vided with a supplemental opening located adjacent the tray and affording communication with the interior thereof, and having a cover for said opening, whereby by retracting said cover access may be had to said tray without opening the main case.

6. A traveling case comprising sections hinged together to open and close as usual, having a hanging tray suspended therein, provided with a supplemental opening adjacent the tray and affording access thereto, the said hanging tray having a width considerably less than the depth of the case; and having a cover for said opening, whereby by retracting said cover access may be had to said tray without opening the main case.

7. A traveling case comprising sections hinged together to open and close as usual, having a hanging tray suspended therein and an auxiliary opening formed in the main cover of the case allowing access to the interior of the said tray, the said auxiliary opening having a separately-movable cover constituted by a flap hinged to the main cover and forming a part thereof, substantially as described.

8. A travelingcase comprising sections thereto, and adapted to fill the gap therein, 1 substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM T. RICHARDS.

Witnesses:

NATHAN B. DAY, EDITH J. ANDERSON. 

